MARGAO
“Mutual understanding” to rotate the hot chair amongst the aspirants to beat the no-confidence motions and ensure stability seems the name of the game at the grassroot Panchayat Raj institutions in Salcete’s countryside.
And, the grassroot politicos seem to have mustered the art of arriving at “mutual understanding” with perfection, not just keeping the flock together, but also enjoying the position of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch in turns.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho may be anxious to bring in a legislation to amend the Panchayat Raj Act to ensure stability at the local-self government bodies, but the local politicos seem to have already put a plan in place how to rotate the chair amongst the aspirants through mutual understanding.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that rotation of the chair and not musical chair game indeed appears the name of the game at many a panchayat body, which have assumed office two days ago. And, the mutual understanding, sources said, has been either arrived at by the newly-elected panchas amongst themselves, or brokered by the political Godfathers, including the MLAs.
If Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao was candid enough in admitting before the media that the post of Sarpanch of Benaulim, Seraulim and Orlim will be rotated amongst the aspirants, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias made no bones of the fact that sarpanchas elected in the four panchayat bodies in Cuncolim constituency will make way for their colleagues after a fixed tenure. While Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues made it appear that he was no party to the “mutual understanding” amongst the elected panchas to rotate the chair, but he hastened to add that many a sarpanch and deputy sarpanch in the panchayat bodies in Velim constituency will make way for their
successors.
Former Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado also conceded that he has to work out the rotation system in the two panchayats of Davorlim and Aquem-Baixo where his men are heading the panchayat bodies.
The Goan understands that Davorlim may top the list amongst Salcete’s 30 panchayat bodies as reports indicate that as many as five panchas may end up in occupying the post of sarpanchas during the five-year term. In fact, Avertano made no bones of the fact that the post of Davorlim sarpanch may be rotated amongst three panchas from Davorlim village and the remaining two from neighbouring Dicarpale. Similarly, he pointed out that the post of Aquem-Baixo sarpanch will be rotated amongst three claimants as per the mutual understanding amongst the ruling group.
The Goan further understands that ruling group members of the Loutolim panchayat have also opted for the rotation system. At Paroda panchayat, while Inacio Tereza has taken over the reigns of office, MLA Clafacio Dias made no secret of the fact that his close aide and former sarpanch Deepak Kharangate will return to the helm of affairs at the fag end of the
current term.
The story in Benaulim is no different. While Diela Pereira has taken over the reigns of office unopposed, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao admitted that the post will be rotated amongst three aspirants.
